# Standing NATO Maritime Group 1

Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) is one of NATO's standing naval maritime immediate reaction forces. SNMG1 consists of four to six destroyers and frigates. Its role is to provide NATO with an immediate operational response capability.

## History

In late November 1966, U.S. Rear Admiral Richard G. Colbert prepared a concept paper proposing a permanent Allied Command Atlantic naval contingency force based on Operation Matchmaker, an annual six-month exercise involving ships from NATO navies. The proposed contingency force was approved by NATO in December 1967 and activated in January 1968 as Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT).
During the 1990s, STANAVFORLANT was heavily involved in Operation Maritime Monitor (July 1992 to November 1992), Operation Maritime Guard (November 1992 to June 1993) and Operation Sharp Guard (June 1993 to October 1996), the maritime embargo operations in the Adriatic Sea established to ensure compliance by Serbia and Montenegro with United Nations (UN) resolutions 713, 715, 787, 820 and 943. Between November 1992 and June 1996 some 74,000 ships were challenged, almost 6,000 were inspected at sea and more than 1,400 were diverted and inspected in port.
The force was under the operational control of SACLANT until SACLANT was decommissioned in 2003 and it was folded into NATO's Allied Command Operations (ACO) at that time.
The force was re-designated Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 in January 2005.
In September 2007, SNMG1 was in the Red Sea bound for Suez to complete a circumnavigation of Africa when the Jabal al-Tair volcano erupted. SNMG1 ships assisted the Yemeni coast guard in the recovery of their military personnel stationed on the island.
From March 2009 to June 2009 SNMG1 was deployed by NATO off the Somali coast to conduct Operation Allied Protector, to deter, defend and protect World Food Programme (WFP) vessels against the threat of piracy and armed robbery, thereby allowing WFP to fulfill its mission of providing humanitarian aid.
Since August 2009, SNMG1 has been providing ships for NATO's Operation Ocean Shield anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden.
On 23–25 March 2012 the group conducted a passing exercise with Carrier Strike Group Twelve, led by USS Enterprise, while carrying out Operation Active Endeavor missions in the Mediterranean Sea. The group's commander, Commodore Ben Bekkering, Royal Netherlands Navy visited Enterprise. At the time the group consisted of the Royal Netherlands Navy frigate De Ruyter, the Spanish Navy frigate Álvaro de Bazán, the German Navy frigate Rheinland-Pfalz, and the Royal Canadian Navy frigate Charlottetown.
In November 2018, HNoMS Helge Ingstad was operating with SNMG1 when she was involved in a collision with a Maltese flagged tanker and had to be deliberately run aground to prevent her sinking. The remainder of SNMG1 stood by to provide assistance.
During 2021, SNMG1 was active in the region of the Baltic Sea for 12 days.

## Current ships

As of January 2025, SNMG1 consists of:
Ships in bold are currently part of the naval force
| Year | Commander | Ship | Type | Part of task force | Flagship |
| 2025 | Commodore Thomas Stig Rasmussen (January 1 – January 9) Commodore Arjen Warnaar (January 9 – ) | HNoMS Maud | Replenishment oiler | January 1 – January 9 | January 1 – January 9 |
| 2025 | Commodore Thomas Stig Rasmussen (January 1 – January 9) Commodore Arjen Warnaar (January 9 – ) | HNLMS Tromp | De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate | January 9 – ongoing | January 9 – ongoing |
| 2025 | Commodore Thomas Stig Rasmussen (January 1 – January 9) Commodore Arjen Warnaar (January 9 – ) | HSwMS Visby | Visby class corvette | January 21 – ongoing | n/a |
| 2025 | Commodore Thomas Stig Rasmussen (January 1 – January 9) Commodore Arjen Warnaar (January 9 – ) | FNS Pori | Hamina-class missile boat | January 22 – ongoing | n/a |
| 2025 | Commodore Thomas Stig Rasmussen (January 1 – January 9) Commodore Arjen Warnaar (January 9 – ) | BNS Louise-Marie | Karel Doorman-class frigate | Februari – ongoing | n/a |

## Previous task groups

In 2024, SNMG1 consisted of:
Ships in bold are currently part of the naval force
| Year | Commander | Ship | Type | Part of task force | Flagship |
| 2024 | Rear-Admiral Joaquin Ruiz Escagedo (January 1 – July 11) Commodore Thomas Stig Rasmussen (July 11 – ongoing) | ESPS Almirante Juan de Borbón | F-100 | January 1 – n/a | January 1 – n/a |
| 2024 | Rear-Admiral Joaquin Ruiz Escagedo (January 1 – July 11) Commodore Thomas Stig Rasmussen (July 11 – ongoing) | ESPS Cantabria | Replenishment oiler | January 1 – n/a | n/a |
| 2024 | Rear-Admiral Joaquin Ruiz Escagedo (January 1 – July 11) Commodore Thomas Stig Rasmussen (July 11 – ongoing) | FGS Bonn | Berlin-class replenishment ship | January 1 – n/a | n/a |
| 2024 | Rear-Admiral Joaquin Ruiz Escagedo (January 1 – July 11) Commodore Thomas Stig Rasmussen (July 11 – ongoing) | HNoMS Maud | Replenishment oiler | September 9 – ongoing | September 9 – ongoing |
| 2024 | Rear-Admiral Joaquin Ruiz Escagedo (January 1 – July 11) Commodore Thomas Stig Rasmussen (July 11 – ongoing) | HNLMS De Ruyter | De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate | August – n/a | n/a |
| 2024 | Rear-Admiral Joaquin Ruiz Escagedo (January 1 – July 11) Commodore Thomas Stig Rasmussen (July 11 – ongoing) | NRP Dom Francisco de Almeida | Multi-purpose frigate | July 31 – n/a | n/a |
| 2024 | Rear-Admiral Joaquin Ruiz Escagedo (January 1 – July 11) Commodore Thomas Stig Rasmussen (July 11 – ongoing) | FS La Fayette | La Fayette class frigate | August – n/a | n/a |
| 2024 | Rear-Admiral Joaquin Ruiz Escagedo (January 1 – July 11) Commodore Thomas Stig Rasmussen (July 11 – ongoing) | BNS Louise-Marie | Karel Doorman-class frigate | October – December | No |
In 2023, SNMG1 consisted of:
Ships in bold are currently part of the naval force
| Year | Commander | Ship | Type | Part of task force | Flagship |
| 2023 | Commodore Jeanette Morang (January 1 – January 6) Rear-Admiral Thorsten Marx (January 6 – ongoing) | HNLMS Tromp | De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate | September 19 – n/a | September 19 – n/a |
| 2023 | Commodore Jeanette Morang (January 1 – January 6) Rear-Admiral Thorsten Marx (January 6 – ongoing) | FGS Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Brandenburg-class frigate | January 6 – n/a | n/a |
| 2023 | Commodore Jeanette Morang (January 1 – January 6) Rear-Admiral Thorsten Marx (January 6 – ongoing) | ORP Generał Tadeusz Kościuszko | Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate | January 6 – n/a | n/a |
In 2022, SNMG1 consisted of:
Ships in bold are currently part of the naval force
| Year | Commander | Ship | Type | Part of task force | Flagship |
| 2022 | Commodore Ad van de Sande (January 7 – July 8) Commodore Jeanette Morang (July 8 – ongoing) | HNLMS Rotterdam | Rotterdam-class amphibious transport dock | January 7 – February 4 | January 7 - February 4 |
| 2022 | Commodore Ad van de Sande (January 7 – July 8) Commodore Jeanette Morang (July 8 – ongoing) | HDMS Peter Willemoes | Iver Huitfeldt-class frigate | January 15 – April | n/a |
| 2022 | Commodore Ad van de Sande (January 7 – July 8) Commodore Jeanette Morang (July 8 – ongoing) | HMS Kent | Duke-class frigate | January 24 – February 4 | n/a |
| 2022 | Commodore Ad van de Sande (January 7 – July 8) Commodore Jeanette Morang (July 8 – ongoing) | FGS Berlin | Berlin-class replenishment ship | February 4 – April | February 4 – April 6 |
| 2022 | Commodore Ad van de Sande (January 7 – July 8) Commodore Jeanette Morang (July 8 – ongoing) | HNLMS Van Amstel | Karel Doorman-class frigate | February 7 – March | n/a |
| 2022 | Commodore Ad van de Sande (January 7 – July 8) Commodore Jeanette Morang (July 8 – ongoing) | FGS Erfurt | Braunschweig-class corvette | March 2 – May | n/a |
| 2022 | Commodore Ad van de Sande (January 7 – July 8) Commodore Jeanette Morang (July 8 – ongoing) | HNLMS De Zeven Provincien | De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate | March 10 – July | April 6 - July |
| 2022 | Commodore Ad van de Sande (January 7 – July 8) Commodore Jeanette Morang (July 8 – ongoing) | HMS Northumberland | Duke-class frigate | March – April 20 | n/a |
| 2022 | Commodore Ad van de Sande (January 7 – July 8) Commodore Jeanette Morang (July 8 – ongoing) | FS Languedoc | Aquitaine-class destroyer | March – April | n/a |
| 2022 | Commodore Ad van de Sande (January 7 – July 8) Commodore Jeanette Morang (July 8 – ongoing) | FS Dixmude | Mistral-class amphibious assault ship | March – April | n/a |
| 2022 | Commodore Ad van de Sande (January 7 – July 8) Commodore Jeanette Morang (July 8 – ongoing) | FS Latouche-Tréville | Georges Leygues-class destroyer | March – May | n/a |
| 2022 | Commodore Ad van de Sande (January 7 – July 8) Commodore Jeanette Morang (July 8 – ongoing) | HMCS Halifax | Halifax-class frigate | April 18 – July | n/a |
| 2022 | Commodore Ad van de Sande (January 7 – July 8) Commodore Jeanette Morang (July 8 – ongoing) | FGS Spessart | Rhön-class replenishment oiler | April – August 4 | n/a |
| 2022 | Commodore Ad van de Sande (January 7 – July 8) Commodore Jeanette Morang (July 8 – ongoing) | HNLMS Karel Doorman | Joint support ship | May 8 – September 23 | July 8 – September 19 |
| 2022 | Commodore Ad van de Sande (January 7 – July 8) Commodore Jeanette Morang (July 8 – ongoing) | NRP Corte-Real | Vasco da Gama-class frigate | May 27 – September 14 | n/a |
| 2022 | Commodore Ad van de Sande (January 7 – July 8) Commodore Jeanette Morang (July 8 – ongoing) | FGS Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Brandenburg-class frigate | May 30 – July 15 | n/a |
| 2022 | Commodore Ad van de Sande (January 7 – July 8) Commodore Jeanette Morang (July 8 – ongoing) | HMS Portland | Duke-class frigate | June 15 – August 4 | n/a |
| 2022 | Commodore Ad van de Sande (January 7 – July 8) Commodore Jeanette Morang (July 8 – ongoing) | HNoMS Roald Amundsen | Fridtjof Nansen-class frigate | August 9 – November / December | n/a |
| 2022 | Commodore Ad van de Sande (January 7 – July 8) Commodore Jeanette Morang (July 8 – ongoing) | HNoMS Maud | Replenishment oiler | August 29 – November / December | n/a |
| 2022 | Commodore Ad van de Sande (January 7 – July 8) Commodore Jeanette Morang (July 8 – ongoing) | HMS Lancaster | Duke-class frigate | August 29 – October 6 | n/a |
| 2022 | Commodore Ad van de Sande (January 7 – July 8) Commodore Jeanette Morang (July 8 – ongoing) | FGS Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Brandenburg-class frigate | September 10 – October 11 | n/a |
| 2022 | Commodore Ad van de Sande (January 7 – July 8) Commodore Jeanette Morang (July 8 – ongoing) | HNLMS Tromp | De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate | September 19 – ongoing | September 19 – ongoing |
| 2022 | Commodore Ad van de Sande (January 7 – July 8) Commodore Jeanette Morang (July 8 – ongoing) | FS Ducuing | D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso | September 24 – October | n/a |
| 2022 | Commodore Ad van de Sande (January 7 – July 8) Commodore Jeanette Morang (July 8 – ongoing) | HDMS Esbern Snare | Absalon-class frigate | October 26 – November / December | n/a |
In 2021, SNMG1 consisted of:
| Year | Commander | Ship | Type | Part of task force | Flagship |
| 2021 | Commodore Bradley Peats | HMCS Halifax | Frigate | January 18 – April 12 May 19 – July 10 | January 18 – April 12 May 19 – July 10 |
| 2021 | Commodore Bradley Peats | HDMS Absalon | Frigate | March 25 – June 18 | April 12 – May 19 |
| 2021 | Commodore Bradley Peats | HMS Lancaster | Frigate | March | n/a |
| 2021 | Commodore Bradley Peats | HMS Westminster | Frigate | March | n/a |
| 2021 | Commodore Bradley Peats | RFA Tiderace | Replenishment Oiler | March | n/a |
| 2021 | Commodore Bradley Peats | FS Bretagne | Aquitaine class destroyer | May 7 – May 14 November 22 – December 15 | n/a |
| 2021 | Commodore Bradley Peats | FS Normandie | Aquitaine class destroyer | May 21 – May 30 September 22 – September 29 | n/a |
| 2021 | Commodore Bradley Peats | HNoMS Storm | Corvette | June 6 – June 18 | n/a |
| 2021 | Commodore Bradley Peats | HNoMS Gnist | Corvette | June 6 – June 18 | n/a |
| 2021 | Commodore Bradley Peats | FS Commandant Blaison | D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso | June 6 – June 18 | n/a |
| 2021 | Commodore Bradley Peats | HMCS Fredericton | Frigate | August 2 – October 5 October 17 – December 15 | August 2 – October 5 October 30 – December 15 |
| 2021 | Commodore Bradley Peats | NRP Corte-Real | Frigate | August 25 – December 15 | n/a |
| 2021 | Commodore Bradley Peats | HNLMS Van Amstel | Frigate | September 6 – December 15 | n/a |
| 2021 | Commodore Bradley Peats | HNoMS Maud | Replenishment Oiler | September 6 – December 3 | n/a |
| 2021 | Commodore Bradley Peats | ESPS Almirante Juan de Borbón | Frigate | September 16 – October 30 | October 5 – October 30 |
| 2021 | Commodore Bradley Peats | BNS Leopold I | Frigate | October 9 – October 29 | n/a |
During this deployment, SNMG1 took part in numerous exercises including:
* TG 21-1 from February 8 to February 19 in Norway
* Dynamic Guard 21 from February 24 to February 26 in Norway
* Joint Warrior 21-1 from May 7 to May 14 in the United Kingdom
* Steadfast Defender 21 from May 21 to June 2 in Portugal
* BALTOPS50 from June 6 to June 18 in the Baltic Sea
* Dynamic Mongoose 21 from July 1 to July 9 in Norway
* Joint Warrior 21-2 from 18 September to 30 September 2021 in the United Kingdom
* FLOTEX 21 from November 22 to December 3 in Norway
* Exercise REP(MUS) from 12 September to 22 September in Portugal

## Organization

SNMG1 is a component of the NATO Response Force (NRF).